The Ministry of Interior’s National Police chief has again issued a directive to sub-level police officials across the country to further tighten inspection of driver’s licenses and vehicle certificates to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by road accidents.

Pursuant to the directive on enhancing the enforcement of the Road Traffic Law 2021, signed by Neth Savoeun, National Police Chief on March 15, police must increase enforcement of the law.

“Prevention of road accidents is still a long-term challenge. However, they pose a daily risk to people’s lives and property,” Savoeun said in his introduction.

According to the directive, police across the country need to further enforce the law concerning vehicle transport workers, passenger cars, and trucks to ensure that all drivers have a valid driver’s license, the vehicle has proper documentation, has the correct technical specifications and correct loading or transporting requirements to ensure safety as stated in the law.

“The positive experience in each administrative area of the capital in 2020 was achieved by clearly defining the location, targets, reasons, accident time and acting on people violating the law,” the directive said.

According to a report by the National Police, for the first quarter of 2001, there were 808 traffic accidents leading to more than 400 deaths, but the number of fatalities and injuries was less than the previous quarter.

Preah Sihanouk provincial police chief Chuon Narin told The Post on March 16 that authorities still continued to strongly enforce the law. But we have added the measure of instructing passengers to wear masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“We still strictly enforce the law to this day. But we are also telling drivers to wear a mask, use cleaning alcohol, and provide guidance on prevention of Covid-19. We have temperature measuring devices at all checkpoints in the province and also implement the government’s guidance of three preventions and three don’ts,” he said.

Narin also pointed out that the number of traffic accidents in the province lately has decreased compared to previous years.

“The number of traffic accidents has been reduced, and deaths due to traffic accidents caused by disobeying the law, mostly from speeding, and mostly due to themselves,” he said.

He added that even though we have taken measures to prevent Covid-19, officials are still on standby to monitor for overloaded trucks and drivers violating the law.

“We provide regular inspections, most importantly, National Road 4, the department of traffic police are on patrol because we have to cover long distances. Sometimes drivers often forget to take care as the road is quiet. So, we stop them and check for alcohol and drugs. Sometimes we put a checkpoint at the end of the road,” he said.

At the same time, Kandal Provincial Police Commissioner, Chhoeun Socheat, briefly stated that the working group is ready to follow the spirit of the letter of the National Police to reduce the number of traffic accidents.

According to the National Police chief, specialised departments and municipal and provincial police chiefs must implement the measures based on the good experience achieved in 2020. Police chief should clearly define the goals, objectives, causes and time of accidents or violations of the law to strengthen law enforcement.

The directive added that police must continue to monitor and restrict offenses by motorcycles and tricycles. Also take strict action against those who flee from road traffic accidents by continuing to investigate and arrest violators.